CABOT — In their second-straight conference home game, this one played on their opponent’s field, the Russellville Cyclones won in convincing fashion as they pounded the Panthers 11-1 in six innings.

Russellville (6-2, 2-0 7A/6A Central) got a dominant performance on the mound from senior Mike Cowles. Cowles, who lived in the northeast during his sophomore and junior season, earned the win in 51⁄3 innings. He faced 22 batters and allowed two hits, three walks, hit two batters and struck out five. Senior Cody Jones relieved Cowles and struck out the two batters he faced in the sixth.

“Mike had them off balance,” Russellville head coach Matt Long said. “He was moving the ball around the strike zone and his curve was hitting its spot. He gave up one unearned run and had five strikeouts. It’s a great thing he’s back with us because we really need him.”

The Cyclones were designated the home team at Cabot after a snafu at M.J. Hickey Park last season. When the Panthers visited last season for a doubleheader, Cabot coach Jay Fitch insisted the teams split the games as home and away as they did in previous years. In reality, Arkansas Activities Association rules state that the true home team in a doubleheader will be designated as the home team in both games. Fitch informed Long that Russellville would be the home team in both their matchups this season.

The Cyclones, who have endured a slow start offensively this season, finally broke out and piled up 14 hits in the win.

“Up and down the lineup we hit very well,” Long said. “Cabot has been a team that we’ve struggled with over the past few seasons, so it was nice to get a big win.”

The win was keyed by a six-run fifth inning that was a throw away from at least one more run. James Reasoner opened the inning with a single, then Jones singled and Reasoner scored on a Frank Chiolino double. Derek Birginske was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Cody Cooper singled to score Jones.

Hayden Hipps reached on an error and Chiolino scored, and Eric Turner drew a walk that sent Tyler Lawson, who was pinch running for Birginske, home for another run. Mitch Mullen followed with a sacrifice fly and Jordan Barnes ripped an RBI single to score Hipps. Turner tried to score on Barnes’ single, but was thrown out at home to end the inning with Russellville on top 9-1.

“We just kind of turned it loose on them in that inning,” Long said. “To give you some perspective, Reasoner led off the inning and was substituted mid-inning. His replacement, Jordan Barnes, ended the inning.”

The Cyclones finished it off in the bottom of the sixth inning as Birginske drew a walk, Cooper was hit by a pitch and Hipps singled to load the bases. Cowles hit an RBI single to score Chase Bicanovsky, who was pinch running for Birginske, and Turner hit a walk-off RBI single to enact the Arkansas Activities Association run rule.

Russellvile will be off for a week and won’t be on the diamond until March 23 in the Little Rock Catholic Tournament. The Cyclones open at noon against Little Rock Christian.

Lady Cyclones fall in shootout

CABOT — The Russellville Lady Cyclones fought hard, but were unable to fend off the Lady Panthers in a 1-1 (5-4) loss in 7A/6A Central Conference play.

Cabot wasted no time getting started as they scored in the game’s first minute. It took Russellville a while, but at the 26-minute mark in the second half Mary Carol Davis found Sarah Prochazka for a score.

Regulation ended with the teams knotted in a 1-1 tie, and it took six tries in the shootout for Cabot to seal the win.